Police probe after Westbury White Horse draped with St George's Cross

Wiltshire Police have launched an investigation after the Westbury White Horse, a 350-year-old chalk hill figure on Salisbury Plain, was altered to resemble the St George's Cross when red material was draped across the figure on September 9.

English Heritage, which owns the land on which the 53-metre-tall horse sits, examined the site after the alteration was reported and said red ribbons held in place by pegs had been removed and had caused "minimal damage." Wiltshire Police said they had received a report "regarding minor damage being done to the horse through the use of pegs" and that they were "in the early stages of our inquiries."

Local walkers reported seeing the red material arranged to echo the English flag. Velisa Russell, who regularly passes the landmark, told reporters the fabric appeared to have caused no lasting harm and described the incident as "more an act of patriotism, not vandalism. Just a bit of fun." Wiltshire Police initially indicated they would not investigate the alteration before later opening an inquiry.

The Westbury White Horse was first cut into the escarpment of Salisbury Plain in the late 17th century, and its current design dates to 1778. The figure is a scheduled monument and is managed as part of the chalk landscape by English Heritage, which monitors condition and carries out conservation work to prevent vegetation regrowth and erosion.

Chalk hill figures are maintained periodically to preserve their visibility and to guard against natural and human-caused damage. English Heritage's swift removal of the material and its assessment that only minimal damage occurred follows standard practice for incidents affecting heritage landscapes.

The alteration was linked by commentators to a recent online movement known as "Operation Raise the Colours," which has encouraged public displays of the St George's Cross and the Union flag in town centres and on public infrastructure. The movement was co-founded by Andrew Currien, also known as Andy Saxon. Media reporting has described him as an ally of activist Tommy Robinson and has said he has alleged links to groups such as the English Defence League and Britain First. Organisers and participants in the initiative have presented it as an expression of national pride, while critics say it has been used by elements of the far right.

The trend has prompted a range of local responses. Some councils have removed flags and banners from council-owned infrastructure citing health and safety concerns and the need to protect public property. The public debate has included national political figures: some Conservative politicians publicly supported flag displays, while government spokespeople have said the prime minister has spoken about pride in being British.

English Heritage did not provide details of any follow-up conservation work beyond its initial assessment. Wiltshire Police said inquiries were at an early stage and gave no further operational detail. The matter remains under investigation, and any determination of potential criminal damage will depend on the outcome of police enquiries and any subsequent conservation assessments by heritage authorities.

Preservation of hillside figures involves ongoing landscape management, and authorities responsible for scheduled monuments have said that even seemingly temporary additions can leave traces that require remediation. The Westbury White Horse remains a prominent feature of the Wiltshire landscape and a protected historic asset, and the incident has renewed attention to the stewardship of heritage sites in public spaces.